The meal that you should always avoid on flights as it makes it harder to sleep
A SLEEP expert has revealed why plane passengers should always avoid certain types of meals whenever they fly.
Getting comfortable on a flight can be incredibly difficult at the best of times, but the food you eat can make it even worse.
Ben Slater from offered his best tips for avoiding a difficult flight, which included eating anything too big or stodgy.
He said: "Try to avoid eating anything too heavy before going to sleep just like you would at home.
"Eating a heavy meal can leave us feeling uncomfortable and bloated, making it harder to fall asleep."
Ben also recommended passengers use a few handy items to increase their chances of getting some kip once the plane has taken off.
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They included eye masks, ear plugs and even oils, which he said can help people fall asleep "in no time".
He said: “Falling asleep on a plane can be tough but if you’ve got a long flight or you're travelling through the night then you may find you have no choice but to try and get some shut-eye.
“There are a few things you can do to help yourself create a more comfortable environment to sleep in.
"Bringing an eye mask is the perfect way to block out the bright lights on a plane and if you’re someone who can’t sleep with noise then it’s best to pack some ear plugs too.
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“One of the best ways to help you sleep though is actually by packing some essential oils.
"Oils like lavender are known for helping people relax and fall asleep so it’s definitely worth trying.
"Go ahead and pop some on your wrists and you’ll be asleep in no time.”
There are other types of food and drink people should avoid when they get on planes, according to flight attendants.
Whytney, who works for a major US airline, recommends that passengers should skip salty foods.
She said this is because overly-processed foods or those too high in sodium may lead to dehydration-related headaches, constipation or fatigue.
She told the: “Pasta and soups are usually high in sodium.
"Also some Indian meals fall in the category because they have no meat but a higher salt content.
"Any kind of sandwich with deli meat inside of it probably has higher levels of salt as well.”
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Meanwhile, one passenger was slammed for eating smelly eggs while waiting for a flight.
And we've rounded up the worst plane meals passengers have been served on planes.
